Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels: Put Napa’s Runoff to Work |
Two ways to make winter rain useful, plus a Napa rebate detail worth checking before you dig |
When rain reaches your roof, its next stop does not have to be the street.
Rain gardens and rain barrels offer two different ways to make that water useful while reducing runoff from your property.
A barrel stores it for later; a rain garden gives it a place to soak into the ground.
The right choice starts with what you want the water to do.
A rain barrel connects to a roof downspout and holds water for non-drinking uses such as irrigation.
A larger cistern performs the same basic job with more storage capacity.
Gravity can move water in some installations, while others need a pump, so the location of the container matters as much as its size.
Plan where overflow will go when the container fills, and keep screens and outlets clear of leaves and debris.
Fine mesh screens over openings help keep mosquitoes, leaves, twigs and other debris out of barrels and cisterns.
A rain garden works differently: runoff enters a planted depression instead of a storage container.
The plants and soil help slow the water and filter pollutants as it infiltrates or moves through the system.
Plant choices must suit both wet periods and dry conditions, and the soil’s drainage affects the design.
This is a place where a little planning beats simply digging a hole beside a downspout.
Foundation setbacks, buried utilities and a safe overflow route all need attention.
For eligible City of Napa water customers, there is also a financial reason to investigate.
The city’s Cash For Grass program offers an extra $1 per square foot for qualifying rain-garden areas, with that bonus exempt from the program’s usual account maximum.
For a comparison of lawn-replacement incentives around the valley, see our earlier guide to Napa Valley’s Cash for Grass rebates.
This is part of the lawn-conversion program, rather than a blanket payment for every new rain garden.
Arrange the required pre-inspection and wait for the city’s Notice to Proceed before removing eligible lawn.
Customers elsewhere in the valley should check with their own water provider rather than assume Napa’s offer applies.
Whether you store rainwater or help it soak in, the goal is to give water a useful pause before it leaves your yard.
Start by watching where runoff travels, then choose a project that fits your property. |
18 Comments
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Watching where the water already runs is smart. Our downspout sends it right toward the walkway.
Rob L.Good catch. You’d want the overflow routed away from the walkway too, especially when the barrel fills during a storm.
We get a lot of leaves in our gutters, so keeping the barrel outlet clear might be a constant chore.
Angela F.A gutter guard might cut down on some of the leaves, though you’d still want to check the screen and outlet now and then.
Glad this points out that Napa's rebate doesn't automatically apply everywhere else in the valley.
The plants needing to handle both wet winters and dry summers is the part I'd need help choosing.
Nora K.Same here. A local nursery might know which plants can take a soggy winter and still manage through August.
I would go with a barrel for watering the garden. Seems simpler than digging up the yard.
A cistern sounds useful, but having to add a pump could make the setup more expensive than I expected.
Elena V.That pump can add up. I’d check whether placing the cistern downhill from where you’ll use the water lets gravity do the work.
Fine mesh screens are worth it. Mosquitoes love any standing water they can find.
We have clay soil, so I wonder if a rain garden would drain well here. Sounds like testing the soil first is important.
The extra dollar per square foot is interesting, but I wish the city made it clearer which rain garden areas qualify.
Good reminder about the pre-inspection. You don't want to pull out the lawn and then find out you missed a step.
We put a barrel under a downspout last winter and were surprised how quickly it filled. The overflow plan really matters.
Does anyone know how much room a rain garden needs? My yard is pretty small.
I like the rain garden idea, especially if it keeps runoff from heading straight into the street.
Adding a rain barrel is a great idea! If it helps reduce my water bill, even better.